Post by The Grim Reaper on Apr 2, 2008 8:05:38 GMT -5
Phantoms notch 1st victory
The Florence Phantoms had been looking for a complete game.
On Saturday night against the Canton Legends, they put one together.
Behind the arm of Omar Jacobs and defensive pressure from Corey Groover and Nick Freet, the Phantoms never trailed en route to a 55-39 win. “I’m happy to get a win for the fans,” said Florence coach Tavares Bowens, whose Phantoms improve to 1-2. “They’re hungry for a winner here.”
While the victory puts the Phantoms in the win column, it might turn out to be a costly one. With 3:09 to play in the third quarter, Groover was injured trying to make a tackle on a running play. Groover, a former Hannah-Pamplico and Clemson standout, was on his back for 20 minutes, swaying his knees. After being placed on a backboard, he was taken off on a stretcher. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to Corey and his family,” Bowens said. “It’s his neck. I’m going to check on him later tonight and I’ll know more.”
On Florence’s first two possessions, Jacobs threw TD passes of 45 and 32 yards to put the Phantoms ahead 15-0. Overall, Jacobs completed 11 of 22 attempts for 217 yards and five TDs while being intercepted once. “We came out and had the chemistry working,” Jacobs said. “We’ve had some players coming and going and it has just taken a couple games to get the chemistry right. “The more games we play together, the better we’re going to be.”
The chemistry between Jacobs and receiver Tres Moses was apparent. Moses caught Jacobs’ 45-yard TD toss on the first possession and finished with five catches and four scores.
“Omar, A.J. Bennett and I all played together at Atlantic Community High School in Delray Beach, Florida,” Moses said. “We all went off to college after high school, but tonight was like playing together in high school again. We had that same chemistry.”
Three of the four TDs from Jacobs to Moses came on deep post routes. The last one — an end zone-to-end zone toss with Jacobs under heavy pressure - put the game out of reach, 55-39, in the game’s final minutes. “Tres’ (defender) was going outside on him and Tres was just open a lot,” Jacobs said. “It was Tres’ night. Some nights are going to be his nights, and other nights will be someone else’s.” With Florence leading 45-33 in the fourth quarter, Jacobs threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown. That pulled Canton within 45-39 before a 38-yard field goal from Colby Wright gave Florence a 48-39 cushion with 4:56 to play. Canton (0-3) had the ball at the Florence 4 and had a chance to pull even. But James Hawkins fumbled the ball away on a toss play, setting up Jacobs’ last TD to Moses.
Canton quarterback James Williamson completed 18 of 33 passes for three scores while being intercepted once. He also ran for two TDs. Florence travels to Fayetteville on April 12.
The Florence Phantoms had been looking for a complete game.
On Saturday night against the Canton Legends, they put one together.
Behind the arm of Omar Jacobs and defensive pressure from Corey Groover and Nick Freet, the Phantoms never trailed en route to a 55-39 win. “I’m happy to get a win for the fans,” said Florence coach Tavares Bowens, whose Phantoms improve to 1-2. “They’re hungry for a winner here.”
While the victory puts the Phantoms in the win column, it might turn out to be a costly one. With 3:09 to play in the third quarter, Groover was injured trying to make a tackle on a running play. Groover, a former Hannah-Pamplico and Clemson standout, was on his back for 20 minutes, swaying his knees. After being placed on a backboard, he was taken off on a stretcher. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to Corey and his family,” Bowens said. “It’s his neck. I’m going to check on him later tonight and I’ll know more.”
On Florence’s first two possessions, Jacobs threw TD passes of 45 and 32 yards to put the Phantoms ahead 15-0. Overall, Jacobs completed 11 of 22 attempts for 217 yards and five TDs while being intercepted once. “We came out and had the chemistry working,” Jacobs said. “We’ve had some players coming and going and it has just taken a couple games to get the chemistry right. “The more games we play together, the better we’re going to be.”
The chemistry between Jacobs and receiver Tres Moses was apparent. Moses caught Jacobs’ 45-yard TD toss on the first possession and finished with five catches and four scores.
“Omar, A.J. Bennett and I all played together at Atlantic Community High School in Delray Beach, Florida,” Moses said. “We all went off to college after high school, but tonight was like playing together in high school again. We had that same chemistry.”
Three of the four TDs from Jacobs to Moses came on deep post routes. The last one — an end zone-to-end zone toss with Jacobs under heavy pressure - put the game out of reach, 55-39, in the game’s final minutes. “Tres’ (defender) was going outside on him and Tres was just open a lot,” Jacobs said. “It was Tres’ night. Some nights are going to be his nights, and other nights will be someone else’s.” With Florence leading 45-33 in the fourth quarter, Jacobs threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown. That pulled Canton within 45-39 before a 38-yard field goal from Colby Wright gave Florence a 48-39 cushion with 4:56 to play. Canton (0-3) had the ball at the Florence 4 and had a chance to pull even. But James Hawkins fumbled the ball away on a toss play, setting up Jacobs’ last TD to Moses.
Canton quarterback James Williamson completed 18 of 33 passes for three scores while being intercepted once. He also ran for two TDs. Florence travels to Fayetteville on April 12.